Because modeling agencies want younger faces, the majority of models are forced to leave the business in their late twenties or early thirties. But every rule has an exception, and Carmen Dell’Orefice is one of them. The supermodel has been modeling for more than seven decades, and even in her early 90s, she continues to grace the covers of illustrious magazines.
Although Dell’Orefice immediately became Erwin Blumenfeld’s (fashion photographer) muse and appeared on a number of other covers, her modeling salary was insufficient to support her family. Dell’Orefice and her mother sewed clothing and sold them to get additional cash. Since neither the young model’s parents nor her family had a phone, Vogue used to send someone to let her know about impending shows.
How was she discovered?
When Carmen Dell’Orefice was found on a crosstown bus on New York’s 57th Street some 73 years ago, she was only 13 years old. She is currently working at 91, making her the longest-tenured model in history. .
After years of modeling for Vogue, Carmen Dell’Orefice got the fashion editor’s attention when she was in her twenties. She began making frequent appearances on the covers and started working as a lingerie model for Vanity Fair.
Longest working model as of now
Carmen has recently closed a high fashion show for Guo Pei and shot campaigns for Sephora & H&M. She will also be featured in the upcoming film Carmen Dell’Orefice: David Downton, a fashion illustrator, and her lifelong friend, proposed The Legend Down the Hall as the location. Tim Petersen, a photographer, was persuaded to follow her practically wherever she went, including the surgery room during one of her hip surgeries and, recently, while she was on assignment in Beijing for four days.
The model later gave birth to a daughter named Laura and wed for the first time. But Bill, her 1st husband, took her paychecks and only gave her a meagre allowance, taking advantage of her financially. Dell’Orefice married photographer Richard Heimann after their first marriage ended in divorce, but their relationship also ended quickly.
When her third marriage came to an end, the model, then 47, made the decision to start working full-time again. The model reappeared in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, Dell’Orefice modeled for Target, Cho Cheng, and Rolex in the 1990s and early 2000s. She currently models for companies like H&M, Sephora, & Phillip Plein, among many others, and walks the runways for brands like Thierry Mugler, Anna Sui, and Guo Pei.
At the age of 91, Dell’Orefice is still going strong, and her outlook on life is genuinely motivational.
Also watch our story on Carmen Dell’Orefice:
Dell’Orefice is also a Guinness World record holder!
In 2008, Dell’Orefice broke the record for the longest career as a catwalk model in the Guinness World Records. A body in action tends to stay in motion, we’re supposed to be in motion, and everyone has a different rhythm, according to the supermodel, and this accurately sums up her lengthy career as well. Dell’Orefice overcame obstacles despite facing them, never letting them deter her, we all can learn from her dedication to her work.
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